Bricks from Corobrik help build new NMMU engineering building

"This is the first major building to be built since the merger of the former University of Port Elizabeth and the Port Elizabeth Technikon and the client desired a face that communicated its position as a dynamic and leading academic institution on the African continent," said Hubert Sieg of Imbono FJA Architects who were awarded the contract.

"We chose Corobrik Sandstone Travertine for the exterior walls and planters because of its dimensional accuracy as well as for its aesthetics as the yellow matched the colour of the existing surrounding buildings. At the same time we tried to combine materials from the North campus, where the new building is located, and the South campus to create a new identity for the merged institution," said Sieg.

Aesthetic and functional value

Corobrik Firelight Travertine with its rich red hue was used inside the building, while De Hoop red pavers were interspersed with a lighter shade on the outside walkways.

"Both were selected by the architects as their colour and textures were in context with nature reserve surrounds in which the university sits," said Christie Van Niekerk, manager of Corobrik Cape. "The other advantages of our clay bricks relating to thermal performance, low fire risk, longevity with low maintenance all helped fulfil important functional needs of this educational institution building."

A total of 60,000 Sandstone Travertine bricks, 8000 Firelight Travertine face bricks and 45,000 De Hoop red pavers from Corobrik were incorporated in the project.

A robust design integrating two campuses

The detailing of the design was purposefully robust to reflect the activities of the mechanical engineering department. The architects sought to integrate the existing forms and materials from the two campuses, namely the concrete brutalist forms of the university and the less spectacular modernist features of the technikon.

The idea was to create living and learning spaces within and external to the building that would provide sheltered, people-friendly gathering places for the informal sharing of ideas. The steel support structure to the large open space workshops were extended to connect into the ground, setting up smaller intimate cloisters with benches and landscaping for use by the students.

"The combination of concrete frame and brick infill panels allowed for easy spatial changes during the building process," Sieg explained. "The modern form of the building represents a new face for the university and also acts as a green heat buffer."

For more information, go to www.corobrik.co.za.